Morocco Hits Record Rasberry Exports to Middle East
This surge, achieved during the first nine months of the current marketing campaign, marks a significant milestone for Moroccan agriculture. The boost is credited to the strong positioning of Moroccan raspberries during off-peak periods in rival markets, consistently high product quality, and a targeted trade strategy aimed at expanding in the Gulf region.
Exports typically run from August through June, with major shipping peaks between October–November and February–May. October 2024 stood out as a record month, with more than 200 tonnes shipped, surpassing the combined totals of the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons.
Currently, Morocco exports raspberries to seven Middle Eastern countries. The UAE and Saudi Arabia dominate as the leading importers, accounting for roughly three-quarters of the total volume. Meanwhile, shipments to Kuwait have tripled over the past three seasons, and exports to Jordan have doubled. The UAE alone has seen a 67% jump in imports over that same period.
The country's market share has expanded sharply across the region. Moroccan raspberries now represent 15% of imports in the UAE, up from 7%. In Kuwait, the share has jumped from 0.2% to 5%, in Qatar from 6% to 10%, in Bahrain from 6% to 22%, and in Jordan from 0.3% to 22%.
While the report details Morocco's impressive growth in Middle Eastern markets, it also notes the country's rise to become the world's second-largest exporter of fresh raspberries as of 2024, second only to Mexico. This remarkable dual achievement reflects Morocco's strategic initiatives, including improved cultivation practices and targeted market diversification.
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